Combination unit showcase



Feb. 5, 1952 GUNDER 2,584,869

COMBINATION UNIT SHOWCASE Filed June 6, 1946 2 SHEETISSHEET 1 Fig.l

Fig.4

LINVENTOR. ROBERT J. GUNDER ATTY.

R. J. GUNDER COMBINATION UNIT SHOWCASE Feb. 5, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed June 6, 1946 INVENTOR.

ROB ERT J. G UNDER ATT Y.

Patented Feb. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,584,869 I COMBINATION UNIT SHOWCASE Robert Jay Gunder, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Hamilton Watch Company, Lancaster, Pa.

Application June 6, 1946, Serial No. 674,690

1 Claim. (01. 312- 114) This invention relates to show-cases and more particularly that type of show-case which is designed for jewelery stores.

The object of the invention is to provide showcase units which may be connected in any desired numbers by rails supporting other showcase units, the connecting and supported units being bodily removable and interchangeable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a show-case made up of a number of individual units which will fit to almost any conceivable space and which will provide the utmost in display and selling convenience both for the customer and the seller.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a show-case unit having self-carried concealed illumination so constructed as to be readily available for repairs or replacements of the lighting units.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lighting unit which may be easily removed for replacement of bulbs and which has interchangeable panels so that transparent, translucent or opaque panels may be used at will.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide standard units, which are connected by rails running between the units and display tables formed with individual removable trays for merchandise which are removably carried on the rails and which may be removed each evening for storage in a safe place.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the show-case showing three of the standard units connected by difierent types of table cases.

Figure 2 is a view of one of the standards showing the table case in broken perspective.

Figure 3 is a back view of the unit shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4-. is a detail view showing the connection of the rails to the side of the standard units.

Figure 5 is a view of the removable lighting unit showing an opaque panel on one side and a translucent panel on the other.

unit I having a reduced base portion 2, front 3,

sides 4, a displayfloor 5 and a glass'front and top 6.

These standards are connected by table cases i or 8 which may be of any desired length or depth and are here shown of two standard depths, the shallow table case 1 and the deeper table case 8. The table cases I and 8 to be described in detail hereinafter are removably set on rails 9 and may be lifted therefrom as a unit and removed to a safe place for night storage.

It is the custom of jewelers to arrange their merchandise in trays and to remove these trays containing the valuable items from the showcases each evening and store the trays or their contents in the safe for the night. It is possible with the specially designed table cases here shown to remove the entire case which may be made of light plywood or plastic and to store the entire case in the safe for any desired period. This would save the jeweler many hours of work each morning and evening normally required to untrim and return the cases.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the standards I are formed in a lower section with shelves l0 and sliding doors H for the storage of any merchandise. A bottom pivoted door I2 gives access to the display floor 5 while removable units I3 provide lighting for the display floor and the table cases, which units will be described hereafter.

Attached to the sides 4 of the standard units I are rails 9 by means of screws l4'. These rails may be of any light metal and are of T-shape formation in cross-section to receive and more or less rigidly support the table cases I or 8. The trays 1 which are formed in the bottom board I5 with T-shaped slots to receive the rails 9 house removable trays It in which other trays carrying the merchandise for sale on velvet cloths or pads may be carried. This makes the contents easily accessible and convenient for the jeweler to remove any desired item for close inspection by the customer.

Referring particularly to Figure 5, the unit l3 formed with a bottom base l1, side frames l8 and end panels one of which is here shown l9. The side frames l8 are open at 20 to allow the panels 2| or 22 to be slid into the frames so that any desired panel may be used, for instance panel 2| is here shown as an opaque plywood panel while panel 22 is a piece of translucent glass. It would of course be easy to provide transparent glass or glass of any desired color. Mounted on the end panels 19 are supports 23 for cold light tubes 24 which supply light through the panels 22 as desired. This unit may be removed completely from the standard unit I and the panels 2| or 22 interchanged at will. It is also easy to replace useless tubes by removing one of the panels through the open slot 20.

It is thus seen that a jeweler is provided with display cases having infinite variation, the standard units I maybe grouped together'or'theymay be separated by any length of the table cases. An attractive and efiicient show-case is thus provided for use with any jewelry store whether it be large or small and whether its needs for showcases be few or great.

What is claimed is:

A composite show-case and display counter comprising a plurality of standard show-case units formed with a transparent top, front and back and arranged at spaced intervals, pairs of g rails connecting and separating said show-case units at standard distances and table caseshaving a transparent top having bottomsformed with grooves receiving said rails so that said table cases are firmly yet removably supported between said standard units and at substantially table height.

ROBERT JAY GUNDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date B. 146,552 Ressinger Mar. 25, 1947 1,020,557 Hunter Mar 19, 1912 1.072280 Walker Sept. 2, 1913 1,700,203 Baker Jan. 29, 1929 2,431,711 Scott Dec. 2, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 194,952 Great Britain Mar. 22, 1923 639,918 France Mar. 19, 1928 

